NIGHTS OF HALLOW

”Milord, I hate to inform you, but the church has found another loophole to solve the mystery of the death in Blackfang town,” Daemon informed immediately after he saw the King walk out of his Chambers fully dressed for the day.

”Did they now?” Sthena nodded, buttoning the sleeve of his shirt. Today, he wore a black shirt with matching black pants accompanying his well-polished black boots. His choice of color today with his red long hair, and dark red eyes added a dangerous charm to the aura he exuded effortlessly. At a glance, one would love to be near but the imposing glint of danger surrounding kept always kept them away.

”Then I must say they have been smart enough this time to notice the mishap going on in the church. Whoever is playing the game with Headchurch Donovan by intercepting the real information should come have a drink with me,” Sthena chuckled. His laugh cut short by the serious expression on Daemon’s face. ”Is there something more I should know of, Dae?”

Daemon exhaled as he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Something he did when an important thing must have happened. He revealed saying, ”They plan to contact Serena to perform the ritual for access into the forest.”

”I doubt Serena will be willing to do that,” Sthena remarked, halting in his steps. The maids and servants as soon as they saw him bowed in greeting and only raised their heads once he was gone from their sight.

”Exactly, Milord,” Daemon agreed to the words of Sthena, his walking pace increasing as well as Sthena’s as they made a round in the hallway just in time to see Princess Sarah coming.

”Brother!” Sarah exclaimed, hurriedly coming over to meet the king halfway. ”My apologies, I meant, Your Majesty,” She corrected herself with a bow. On the other refusing to look at Daemon.

”Greetings, Princess,” Daemon greeted and like other times, was ignored.

”What is it, Sarah?” Sthena asked. He knew when Sarah referred to him as a brother, she was going to ask for something personal. ”And I believe it was you my Chief Advisor greeted?”

”My apologies,” Sarah replied with a small bow to acknowledge Daemon’s greetings. She turned back to Sthena saying, ”You do remember the hunt which I proposed some weeks ago to which you and Mother agreed to?”

”Yes, I do remember, Sarah dear. The one your lovely Mother asked you to invite Mr. Hans?” Sthena remarked a glint of mischief in his eyes which went unnoticed by the Princess whose expression turned sour.

”That is the reason why I have come to you, brother. Please, can you help me—”

”I have always told you, Sarah,” Sthena cut the Princess short knowing what she was going to say next. ”The issue between you and the man whom your mother had chosen for you to marry has nothing to do with me and it is not in my place to intervene. However, like I have always told you, if you want me to intervene, inform your mother, she knows what to exactly do about it.”

”Why are you so scared of the poor man anyway, Sarah?”

”I am not scared of him!” Sarah interjected. ”I just do not like him. And I wouldn’t want such an irresponsible man as he to be called my husband.”

”Who then do you find responsible?” Sthena continued to question. His voice light and convincing, but on the inside he knew what he was doing.

Princess Sarah paused on the question, her mind pondering on the possible reply to Sthena’s question. Her gaze went from the king and briefly went to Daemon before replying, ”The responsible person is nonetheless foolish, brother, to acknowledge his feelings. Acting like a boy instead of a man.”

”Quite unfortunate,” Sthena mused, shaking his head.

”It is,” Sarah agreed while side glancing in Daemon’s direction whose expression gave off nothing he thought in his head. He only once in a while pushed his spectacle upwards, acting invisible to their conversation.

”While waiting for the boy, you can use that time to set out the invite to Mr. Hans for your proposed hunt. You might meet your mother to help out. If you may excuse me, darling sister.” Sthena expressed, flashing her a wide smile as he and Daemon walked away.

”As I was saying, Milord,” Daemon resumed speaking as he cleared his throat.

”About you being the boy who can’t acknowledge his feelings?”

”Milord,” Daemon called out sightly glancing at the king with furrowed brows and lips set in a straight line. ”Can we focus on the topic we were discussing?”

”Okay, let’s keep the innocent boy out of the discussion. What were you saying?” Sthena turned to look at Daemon who shook his head.

Daemon’s lips twitched, his eyes slightly dilated while his gaze remained focused as he remarked, ”Sometimes, I am compelled to run a stake into your black heart.”

Sthena chuckled, his eyes crinkling in pure amusement, ”I’d love to see you try. Besides,” He paused and leaned towards Daemon to whisper, ”My heart, much to your disappointment is now red and no longer black.”

”The church members are set to enter the forest of peril. The infamous forest of the witches which belongs to the Green eye witch family.” Daemon explained, deciding not to give in to Sthena’s taunts much to the disappointment of the King.

”You are such an aloof man, Dae,” Sthena shook his head while still amused. Replying to Daemon’s words, ”That sure keeps them in a disadvantageous situation. That forest, Serena would refuse to let them near the foot of it or even into it. One question remains, why will the location of the culprit behind the death in Blackfang town be located inside that forest?”

A thoughtful expression made its way to Daemon’s face, his hand pushing his spectacle once more. He expressed, ”Either it is another misinformation or the culprit is really in that forest. And for whoever it is to be in that forest, they could likely be involved with the green-eyed witch family.”

”Or whoever is intercepting the information is somewhere planning another kill. How’s the arranging for my visit to Blackfang town going?”

”Everything is set, Milord. The only thing remaining is for your final order to be passed.” Daemon replied.

”Good,” Sthena acknowledged with a nod of his head.

”Another thing, Milord,” Daemon paused in his steps so did the king who turned to him, ”I just found out that Vetis through his first-hand man, John, had set a maid in the castle as an informant who will monitor and report everything about Lady Perdita and things going on in the castle to him.”

”Did I just hear my name,” Perdita who walked in from the adjacent hallway met Sthena and Daemon standing with Emily her handmaid behind her.

”Yes, darling,” Sthena nodded, smiling warmly at her. ”I was just telling Daemon here how I no longer have a black heart but a red heart now.”

”Ah,” Perdita mouthed, heat rushing up her cheeks realizing the meaning of his words, ”I’ll leave you two then,” She said, greeting Daemon with a bow and immediately left with Emily.

”You were saying something about a maid?” Sthena quizzed looking in the direction where Perdita went with her maid.

”Could be anyone among the maids, Milord. Close or not close to the Lady.” Daemon said knowing the King’s suspicion had doubled as they headed in the direction of the courtroom.